2.28.2006

Non-Roster Love (Part 1)

Today's Profile on a Met who won't make the teamToday: Jeremi Gonzalez

Counting down to spring training, the Mets have plenty of bad non-roster invitees who will not make this team. There have been these players on every team every year, some who do it just to generate a buzz at spring training, like Garth Brooks. Others do it because they can't realize that their careers are over, like Gerald Williams or Alan Benes.

Jeremi Gonzalez is not a good pitcher. The man is practically a joke. He began his career as a 22-year old rookie in 1997 with the Cubs, where he made a good first impression, going 11-9 with a 4.25 ERA. Cubs fans thought that this guy could only get better, when, in actuality, he could only get worse. The next year he was up and down with a 7-7 performance coupled with an ERA of 5.32. Gonzalez then shocked (and aided) the world by vanishing until 2003, when he shockingly resurfaced with the Devil Rays, a franchise known for their historically great pitching. Gonzalez threw well though, putting up a 6-11 record with an ERA of 3.91, giving rise to a thought of resurgence. Then again, Jeremi Gonzalez is Jeremi Gonzalez. He went 0-5 with a 6.97 ERA in 2004 before being demoted to the minor leagues. But a home was found for him in the ridiculously thin Boston staff, where Gonzalez flourished by his standards, going 2-1 with a 6.11 ERA in 28 games (3 starts). The Mets now have laid claim to this highly sought righty, for they apparently need someone to be this year's Manny Aybar, Mike Matthews or James Baldwin. J-Gon will certainly be sure to make the Norfolk Tides proud- as their third starter.Gonzalez and Jose Lima sharing a moment on photo day

Tomorrow: Dae-Sung Koo, a man even more ridiculously unlikely to make the team than Gonzo

1 comment:

Anonymous
said...

What you failed to mention in this post is all the injuries he had and the surgeries that resulted in the "disappearence" from MLB. He could have given up and left all together, even though you stated he was a "bad" pitcher he has made enough money to live on but he loves the game and chose to fight through the injuries, go through the minors for the love of the game. That is something I respect, he may not be the pitcher he was at 22 but he will always be respected in my book, at least tell both sides of the story when bloggging, something a true "blogger" would do I guess that is like being in the minors in the sports reporting industry!!